Gypsum calcining apparatus



Feb. 27, 1923.

s. E. TOWNLEY ET AL.

GYPSUM CALCINJNG APPARATUS.

FILED MAY 26, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:I I 1 Z8 ,1 %2' ATTORNEYS.

atented eh. 27.1923. I

SHELDON 'E. TOWNLEY, 0113 EAST ORANGE, AND FREDERICK E. TOWNLEY, OFNEWARK,

' NEW JERSEY.

GYPSUM CALCININ'G APPARATUS.

Application filed May 26,

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, SHELDON LEY andFREDERICK E. TOWNLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at EastOrange and Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gypsum CalciningApparatus; and we' do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as willenable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. T

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in gypsum calciningapparatus; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to anovel construction of multiple kettle ypsum calciner for economicallyand efllciently producing plaster of Paris and similar products.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a construction ofmultiple kettle calciner, in which there is a novel association andcombination with the main calcining kettle of one or more preheatingkettles arranged for intercommunication at proper times; saidarrangement of kettles being further combined with a furnace structureprovided with means whereby the products of combustion,after'operatively passing through the maincalcining kettle, areconducted successively through the preheating kettles; all to the endthat a more rapid handling and treatment of the raw material in largerquantities per given time period may be accomplished with a minimum offuel consumption; the apparatus utilizing the heatof waste products ofcombustion, which in the ordinary single calcining kettle is lost bydischarge through the furnace stack.

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time moreparticularly enumer- 'ated, will be clearly understood from thefollowing detailed description of the same. The invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a topView of the novel gypsum calcining apparatus, made according to andembodying the principles of this in- E. TOWN-H 1921. Serial No. 472,638.

vention; Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same,taken on line 22 in said Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse verticallongitudinal section through Referring now to said drawings, thereference-character 1 indicates a housing, preferably built of brick,and 'en'erally of up right cylindrical form. I base 2 of said housing 1is a fire-box 3, having arranged therein any suitable construct1on ofgrate 4, access to which is had through the fire-door 5.

Supported upon the base 2 of said housrovided in the ing 1, so as toextend upwardly through the interior of said housing, is a kettle shell6,

the same being smaller in diameter than the inside d1ameter of thehousing so as to provide an annular passage or space between said kettleshell 6 and the walls, of said housing. Said kettle shell 6 is providedwith a bottom plate 7 which extends over said firebox 3, and at itsupper end the kettle shell is provided with a top or cover plate 8.Arranged intermediate the said bottom plate 7 and cover plate 8 are oneor more partition plates 9. As shown in the drawings, two such partitionplates 9 are employed to divide the kettle shell into threecompartments; the bottom compartment 10 providing a main calciningkettle, the interme diate compartment 11 and top compartment 12providing preheating kettles. Extending transversely across or throughthe interior of said main calcining kettle 10 are a diate the kettleshell 6 and the walls of said housing 2.

/ 17 terminates at points adjacent to the op-' Extending transverselyacross said annular space intermediate the kettle shell 6 and the wallsof the said housing 2 adjacent to the upper end of said main calciningkettle 1.0, and above the level of the flue pipes 13 thereof, is ahorizontal upper baffle plate 17 which closes the said annular space ata point above the receiving-ends ofsaid flue pipes 13. Said upperhorizontal baffle plate like manner, extending transversely acrosspreheating kettle flue pipes 15.

said annular space intermediate the kettle shell 6 and the walls of saidhousing 2 adjacent to the upper end of said preheating kettle 11, andabove the level of the flue pipes 14 thereof, is a horizontal upperbaffle plate 21, terminating at points adjacent to the opposite sides ofthe discharge ends of said flue pipes 14 in downwardly extendingvertical baflle plates 22, the lower ends of which are connected by alower horizontal baffle plate 22, thus ,forming an annular flue passage23 which intercommunicates only with the discharge ends of saidcalcining kettle flue pipes .13 and the receiving ends of saidpreheating kettle flue pipes '14. Similarly there are provided adjacentto the opposite sides of the discharge ends of said flue pipes 15downwardly extending vertical bafiie plates 24, the lower ends of whichare connected by a horizontal baffle plate 25, thus forming at the outersides of said plates 24 and 25 an annular flue passage 26 whichintercommunicates only with the discharge ends of said preheating kettleflue pipes 14 and the receiving ends of the The space confined withinthe inner boundaries of said bafiie plates 24 and 25 forms a dischargeflue passage 27 which intercommunicates only with the discharge ends ofsaid flue pipes 15 and the vent stack 28 mounted in connection with saidhousing 2.'

The reference character 29 indicates a steam or vapor vent pipe, whichis connected in communication with the interiors of the respective maincalcining kettle 10 and preheating kettles 11 and 12 by the respectivebranch pipes 30, 31 and32.

The top or cover plate 8 is provided with a material admission opening33 leading into the preheating kettle 12; the upper partition plate 9 isalso provided with a maasses 35 are each furnished with closing gates36, I i

as shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 4.

The main calcining kettle 10 is provided in its side, adjacent to thebottom thereof, with a materialdischarge opening 37 which communicateswith a suitable discharge chute 38 for conveying away the calcinedmaterial. Said discharge opening is furnished with a closing gate 39, asshown more particularly in Figures 3 and 5.

,Journaled in-bearings 40 provided in said cover plate 8 and in saidpartition plates 9, is a centrally disposed vertical longitudinal shaft41, which extends downwardly through said preheating kettles 12 and 11and into said calcining kettle 10. Fixed on said shaft 41 so as torespectively operate in the lower portion of each preheating kettle 12and 11 and in said main calcining kettle 10, are rotatable agitatormembers or stirring bars 42. Said shaft 41 may bedriven by a driveshaft. 43 through gearing 44, or in any other manner foundconvenient ordesirable.

The walls of said housing 2 are pierced,

at points opposite the discharge ends of the respective sets of fluepipes 13, Hand 15 with ports 45 normally closed by doors 46. Whenuncovered, tools for cleaning said flue pipes 13, 14 and 15 may be givenaccess to the latter through said ports 45.

Each preheating kettle 12 and 11, and

ports 47 may be used by the operators to observe-the progress of thecalcining of the gypsum, and also give access to the interiors of therespective kettles for the purpose of taking tem eratures.

Having 1; us described the construction of the novel calciningapparatus, we will now briefly set forth the functioning of the same,

i and the manner of using thesame.

The hot gases or products 'of combustion from the fire on the box 3 anddirectly contact with the bottom of the main calcining kettle 10,flowing thence through the flue ports 16 into the fine ate 4 rise in thefirepassage 20 so as to surround the greater part of the main calciningkettle 10, thence passing through the flue pipes 13 into the fluepassage 23 around the preheating kettle 11,

escaping through the flue pipes 14-into the be treated, (e. g. rawground gypsum) which is fed from bins into the preheating kettle 12through the opened admission opening 33. The openings 34 and 35 areuncovered to permit intercommunicati on between the kettles,-so thematerial will flow downwardly through the preheating kettles intothemain calcining kettle 10; the rotation of the agitator members orstirring bars 42 assisting the delivery of the material from one kettleto another. After a proper initial amount of material is collected. inthe main calcining kettle .10, the opening'35 is closed to allow thepreheating kettle 11 to partially fill, and then the opening 34 isclosed to allow the preheating kettle 12 to fill to the desired degree.After the material in the main calcining kettle has been suflicientlylivened up by the heat so that the agitator members 42 will not jam, theopenings 35, 34 and 33 are again opened so as to allow additionalmaterial from the preheating kettle 11 to run into the main calciningkettle; additional material from the preheating kettle 12 to run intothe preheating kettle 11, and more raw material to be fed into thepreheating kettle12. This operation is repeated a suflicient number oftimes to permit the main calcining kettle to become. fully charged.After the main calcining and preheating kettles are completely charged,thematerial in the former undergoes the boiling operation and is broughtup to the requisite de gree of temperature. In the meantime the productsof combustion utilized for heating the material in the main calciningkettle, are successively passed around the preheating kettles andthrough the pipe flues thereof,

so as to preheat thecontents thereof preparatory to delivery thereofinto the main cal- This preheating is accomplishedby the products ofcombustion usually wasted by directdischarge through a stack, and.consequently the apparatus not only saves fuel, since the material ispreheated before entering the main calcining kettle and consequentlv isbrought up to the required temperature much more quickly after deliverythereinto, but also the apparatus handles a greater volume of materialin a given time period with a consequent saving of labor cost per givenvolume. A comparative estimate indicates, for example, that l-i tons pertwelve hour day produced in the heretofore used single calcining kettle,is increased to 7 7 tons per twelve hour day when treated in theapparatus made according to this invention and possessing a maincalcining kettle of equal size,

-twelve hour day.

When the material in the main calcining kettle 10 reaches a certaindegree F. in temperature, the same is ready for discharge into the,coolmg bins, this being accomplished by opening the gate 39 and runningoff the product through the discharge opening 37 and discharge chute 38.The operations of recharging the apparatus is then repeated, as abovedescribed.

We are aware that some changes may be made in the construction of theapparatus asabov'e described and as illustrated in the drawings, withoutdeparting from the scopeof and while still retaining the generalprinciples of our invention. Hence, we do not limit our invention to,the exact arrangements and construction of parts, as described in theforegoing specification, nor 'do we confine ourselves to the exactdetails of the construction of the various parts as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

' We claim 1. In an apparatus of the kind described, an uprightcylindrical housing provided with a fire-box in its base and aflue-stack at its upper end, a kettle shell mounted 'within said housingabove said fire-box, the sides of said kettle shell being spaced fromthe walls of said housing to provide an intermediate annularspace, meansdividing said kettle shell into a plurality of compartmentsonetransverse flue pipes extending through each kettle, said fire-boxhaving flue-ports communicating with the lower end of said annularspace, baflleplates in said annular space to divide the same intosuccessive flue passages whereby the products of combustion aresuccessively delivered around each kettle and thence through the fluepipes thereof and finall ,discharged into' saidsfiue-stack, each kett ehaving a material admission opening, closing means for eachvmaterialadmission opening, said main'calcining kettle having a discharge openina discharge chute connected with said d ischarge opening, closing meansfor said discharge opening, a central. longitudinal shaft extendingthrough said compartments, an agitator member for each compartmentmounted on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, an upright cylindrical housingprovidedwith a fire-box in its base and a. flue-stack at its upperend,.a kettle shell mounted within said housing above said fire-box, thesides walls of said housing to provide an intermediate annular space,means dividing said kettle shell into a plurality of compartments oneabove the other, the lowermost compartment providing a main calciningkettle, the next compartment above providing an intermediate preheatingkettle, and

successive flue passages whereby the products of combustion aresuccessively delivered around each kettle and thence through the fluepipes thereof and finally discharged into said flue-stack, each kettlehaving a material admission opening, closing means for each materialadmission opening, said main ralcining. kettle having a dischargeopening, a discharge chute connected with said discharge opening,closing means for said discharge opening, a central longitudinal shaft.extending through said compartments, an agitator member for eachcompartment mounted on said shaft-means for rotating said shaft, a vaporvent pipe, and intercommunicating means between said vent pipe and eachcompartment.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, an upright cylindrical housingprovided with a fire-box in its base and a flue-stack at its upper end,a kettle shell mounted within said housing above said fire-box, thesides of said kettle shell being spaced from the walls of said housingto provide an intermediate annular space, means dividing said kettleshell into a plurality of compartments aaaeee one above the other, thelowermost compartment provldmg a main calcimng kettle, the nextcompartment above providing an intermediate preheating kettle, and theupper-' most compartment providing a top preheating kettle, transverseflue pipes extending through each kettle, .said fire-box havingflue-ports communicating with the lower end of said annular space,baffle plates in said annular space to divide the same into successiveflue passages whereby the products of combustion are successivelydelivered around each kettle and thence through the flue pipes thereofand finally discharged into said flue-stack, each kettle having amaterial admission opening, closing means for each material admissionopening, said main calcining kettle having a discharge opening, adischarge chute connected with said discharge opening, closing means forsaid dis-- snnnnon ETOWNLEY. FREDERICK n. TOWNLEY.

Witnesses:

Fit/om MILLER, EVA E. DESCH.

